Spark-plug.



l W. "z. FLOWER.

SPARK PLUG. APPLIoATIoN rILBD MAY a1, lolo.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911,

@dvi b1 1 e ooe o WARD Z. FLOWER, 0F GIBBON, MINNESOTA.

SPARK-PLUG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

Application led May 31, 1910. Serial No. 564,234.

to which it appertains to make `and use the same. 4

This invention relates to improvements inspark plugs of the jump-spark type, thel primary object of thejinvention being to provide meansY whereby the electrodes will be automatically kept bright and clean and free from the coking deposit which now ordinarily accumulates" on the electrodes in combustion engines and prevents sparking so as to`seriously interfere with the success- `ful-operation of the engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide .al sV ark plug having one of its electrodesa justable to compensate for wear.

4With the stated objects, and other incidental objects, in view,`the invention' consists in certain novel features of the device illustratedin the accompanying drawings, all of which will be hereinafter first fully described and then more particularly pointed out in the Lappended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved spark plug showing it applied to an engine.' Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the plug. Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 4-4 of Figi 2, and Fig.'5 is Va similar view on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

In carrying out my invention, I provide an outer tubular casing or socket membe'r l, having a threaded inner end4 adapted to be engaged in a threaded opening in the wall of the engine cylinder so as to bring the inner end of the spark plug within the coinbustion chamber of the engine. Thesocket member is also provided with an angular portion 2 to be engaged by a wrench or other tool in securing the plug in position and beyond this angular portion the" extremity 3 of the member is threaded, as shown. On theinner end oi the socket inem bei' is formed a substantially U-shaped bracket 4, in tlie shoulder of which is a. threaded aperture ada ted to receive the inner or stationary eectrode 5, the said device.

bracket being disposed entirely within the combustion chamber of the engine as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The electrode 5 is provided with a threaded stem o1' shank G which is engaged in the threaded aperture in the bracket 4 and is thus secured in the' socketmember in such a manner that it may be readily adjusted to compensatefor the wear o1 either electrode. On 'the threaded stein of the fixedelectrode is mounted a jam nut 7 which is ada ed to be turned home against the end of t e socket member to secure the electrode inits adjusted position, while in the outerl end of the stem is preferably arranged a cotter pin or other stop 8 tovpievent the nut 7 from being unintentionally removed from the shank. ln the head or outer end of the fixed electrode is a conical recess `9 to be engaged by the end of the movable electrode in the operation of the In the outer end of the socket member 1 1s formed a socket 10 which receives the insulatingsleeve or lining 11, said lining entering the 4boreof rthe socket member and having 'an'annular enlargement 12 formed i on its outer surface substantially midway its ends which fits snugly within' the socket. Between .the inner-end of the enlargement 12 and the inner end of the socket 10 is arranged a suitable packin 13 to prevent leakage of gases between the' lining and the member 1 of the plug. The outer end of the lining 11 projects beyond the outeyend of thesocket member 1' and through the lockinff nut or gland 14 which is screwed onto the threaded outer end 3 to secure tlic sleeve or lining firmly in place, a suitable packing 15 being arranged between the end 14 and the enlargement 12 as shown.4

. vArranged against the outer end ofthe insulating sleeve' 11 is an outer member 16 having on Iits inner end a reduced tubular extension or stem 17 which is exteriorly threaded and projects through the sleeve or lining 11 and has"` mounted on its inner extremity a fastening nut 18 adapted to be turned home' `against the sleeve or lining to clamp the same firmly on the .outer plug member, the bore of the lining 11 being enlarged at an intermediate point of its length to 'accommodatethe nut 18 as shown in Fig. 2 oiiter plug member 16 is of a cylindrical yformation and its outer extremity is closed by a threaded 'plug 19 having in its inner and as will be readily understood. .The

eiid'a conical recess 20 which forms the outer endwall of the member 16 and furnishes a seat for-the electrode piston. On the outer end of the plug 19 is formed a threaded extension 21, said plug and extension being centrally bored, as shown at 22. On, the extension 2l is mounted a binding nut 23 by means of which' one of the current conductors is secured to the plug. The outer .end of the cylindrical plug member 16 is hollow, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, to

provide a chamber communicating with tlie bore of the stem 17, the inner end of said chamber being conical to form a seat corresponding to the seat presented by the inner end of the'plug 19. Slidably mounted in the said chamber is a piston 24, the `opposite ends of which are conical to engage the conical seats at the opposite ends of `the chamber, while from the inner end of the piston a connecting rod or stem extends through the stem 18 and has an electrode 26 on its inner extremity, said electrode being thus supported vin position to engage the y conical depression or recess 9 in the stationary electrode 5.

YVhen the electrodes are separated, as shown in Fig. 2, the closing of the circuit by the timer or interrupter, ,usually em- Vthe opposite direction to-discharge the spent gas, a partial vacuum is produced so that the atmosphere pressure on the piston 24 through the bore 22 of the plug 20 will drive the vpiston inward so that the'electrode 26 will be carried forcibly against the fixedl l electrode, the Contact between the two electrodes causing any soot lor other ro'duct deposited thereon to be dislodged. 'Afpolishing action willI alsa take place between the electrodes so that they will be kept bright, and coking or corroding of the same cannot occuri The piston 24 ts sufficiently snug. in the outer plug member to prevent escape of gas or entrance of air therethrough, the air admitted through the plug 19 acting as a cushion to prevent jarring of the vpiston on its outer-.movement and consequent bend-- ing or breaking of`the stem 25. By securing the electrode 5 in the manner shown and described, any Wear of either electrode may be immediately taken up and the parts adjusted to proper' operating relation.

Having thus described my invention, what" I claim is 1. A spark plug comprising a socket mem'- ber, a stationary electrode arranged atthe inner end thereof, an insulation lining inl saidy member, a cylindrical outer member:

extending through said lining, a piston .Operatively mounted in said member, andjy ,y

electrode carried by the inner end ef' i piston and adapted to be moved thereby/anto and out ofv engagement with the stationary electrode.

2. A spark plug comprising a socket inem#` ber, aninsulating lining therein, a stationA ary electrode adjustably secured in the inner end of the socket member, a cylindrical outer member in'the outer end of said lining coininunicating at its outer end with the atmosphere and at its inner end with the combustion chamber of the engine, a piston slid- 'ably mounted in the outer end offsaid ineinber, and an electrode carried by said piston pinge against the stationary electro e.

3. A spark plug comprising a socket member adapted tobe secured in the combustion chamber of an engine, a bracket on the iii-v iier end of said member, a stationary elec-v trode having a threaded engagement 1n said bracket, a j am nut mounted on said electrode to bear against said bracket, an insulation lining arranged in said member, an outer member secured in said lining, a piston slidably mounted in said outer member, and an and adapted to be operated tliereb to im-- y electrode carried by said piston and adapted to be operated thereby to impinge against the stationary electrode.

4. A spark plug comprising a socket mem- .ber adapted to be secured in the combustion;

chamber of an engine, a stationary electrodel secured 1n and housed by the inner end .of

said casing, a tubular insulation lining arranged in the outer portion of said member, an outer member having a tubular stem secured in said lining, a tubular plug adapted to close the outer end of said member, a piston slidably `mounted in said member, a

stem or rod extending from said piston l through the tubular stem of said outer meinber, and an electrode arranged on the inner end of said stem and adapted to be moved forcibly against the stationary electrode.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Y `WARD Z. FLGWER.

Witnesses: l

CHAs. W. QUANDT,

EDWIN ANDRESON. 

